Renowned family life and fatherhood development strategist, Akinropo Akinola, has called for the revival of storytelling as a tool for cultural preservation and raising responsible children.
He spoke during the Annual African Family Life Delegate Conference, held in Benin City, Edo State, which was organised by the Institute of Family Engineering Development (IFED) to coincide with the International Day of the Family.
As a panelist on the topic, ‘Shaping a New Generation with the Values of the Past: Strategies and Frameworks for Stakeholders’, Akinola spotlighted Africa’s timeless child-rearing philosophies and their relevance to modern parenting. He urged parents to resurrect the storytelling tradition, ensuring younger generations learn from the triumphs and mistakes of their ancestors.
“Unlike punitive measures, storytelling offers children a mirror to observe consequences vicariously through characters and critical thinking. For instance, tales like the Yoruba “Ìjàpá” (tortoise) chronicles where greed or deceit leads to downfall teaches children to internalise lessons on honesty and humility without feeling chastised.
“This method aligns with what psychologists term vicarious learning: children absorb moral frameworks by analysing characters’ choices, mistakes, and resolutions, making discipline an organic, reflective process rather than a forced mandate. By reviving this approach, parents can cultivate self-awareness and accountability, as children connect their actions to communal values preserved in these narratives,” he said.
She also highlighted the Yoruba concept of “Ọmọ”, a blueprint for intentional parenting, saying: “Our ancestors saw children as clay to be shaped with purpose, not coerced. This mirrors today’s emphasis on emotional intelligence and nurturing environments. If every parent knows and values this concept of “omo”, every child will be nurtured with intentionality and every parent will remain focused on the divine assignment given to them. Whatever the outcome of the child in adulthood, it is the result of what the parent molded.”
Akinola asserted that Africa’s parenting wisdom isn’t archaic, noting that it has advanced.
“When we teach a child their oríkì, we give them an unshakable sense of self identity. That’s how we build a generation that honours its past while leading the future,” he added.
The event drew practitioners from other countries, including Cameroon, the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America.
The delegates explored Benin City’s historical sites, reinforcing connections to Africa’s heritage and strength.
Akinola is a leading voice in African family systems and cultural preservation, blending ancestral knowledge with contemporary research. His work focuses on empowering communities through culturally rooted education.
